VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team closed out its three-match homestand with a 3-2 victory over NJIT Sunday at the Events Center.
 
The Bearcats defeated the Highlanders 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 17-25 and 15-10. Maya Coblentz-Brown put up 20 kills with Binghamton, while both Viktoria Dimitrova and Merima Smajlovic added 12. With Smajlovic also adding 18 digs, the senior outside hitter recorded her 10^th double-double of the season. Additionally, Alexandra Koleva recorded 43 assists, her most as a Bearcat.
 
"We fight," said Binghamton Head Volleyball Coach Allie Yaeger. "That is something that we do. We will give away really big leads like we did tonight and we did against UMBC, but we are fighters, it shows and I'm glad we came away with the win."
 
NJIT countered Binghamton early and often in the first set, with both teams fighting to an 8-8 tie. The Bearcats then jumped out to a 9-2 run, with three kills by Coblentz-Brown during that stretch, to move ahead 17-10. While the Highlanders eventually used a 5-1 run to get within four at 22-18, Binghamton closed out the frame with two more kills from Coblentz-Brown and one from Sophia Holland to take the first set.
 
The Highlanders did not back down in the second set, however. With both teams once again tied at eight, it was NJIT that went on a run, using a 12-3 run to take a 20-11 lead. Binghamton responded with an 11-3 run to bring it to 24-22. But NJIT got a kill from Mariana Cova and a service ace from Sara Siefert to win the set 25-22 and tie the match at one.
 
After the third set was tied at three, the Bearcats took the lead and never looked back, leading by as much as seven before winning the frame 25-19. Smajlovic put up five of her kills during that set, while Francesca Pierdonati recorded two of her eight total blocks.
 
Binghamton appeared ready to win the match in the fourth set, jumping out to an 8-4. However, the Highlanders put up 18 of the next 19 points to take control of the set 22-9. While Binghamton countered with an 8-2 run to bring it to 24-17, NJIT ultimately won the frame to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Binghamton eventually found itself in a 10-7 deficit in the final set, needing to put together one more run in order to take the match. That run came in the form of Binghamton scoring the final eight points of the set, with Dimitrova getting two kills and Coblentz-Brown adding one for match point.
 
The Bearcats head back out on the road for a match at Bryant on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m.
 
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.